Pushbutton depressible to actuated position against the force of one biasing means, and depressible to latched position against the force of two biasing means

ABSTRACT

A pushbutton switching unit for switching ON and OFF various operating functions in a tape recorder and playback apparatus which has a button member which is depressed to actuate the switching function. Partial depression of the button will actuate the switching function and release of the button will return the switching mechanism to their rest position. Movement of the pushbutton beyond the initial switching position will result in the operator encountering a certain amount of resistance to further movement of the button beyond the switching position. Application of additional force will overcome the additional resistance and the button and switching mechanism will then be moved into a locked position in which the switching mechanism will remain in the actuated position.

United States Patent Friedrich Louzil;

PUSHBU'I'ION DEPRESSIBLE TO ACTUATED POSITION AGAINST THE FORCE OF ONEBIASING MEANS, AND DEPRESSIBLE TO LATCI'IED POSITION AGAINST THE FORCEOF TWO BIASING MEANS 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

us.c1 200/159 R, 200/169 PB, 200/5 A Field 01 Search 200/5 A,

52, 52.2,159, 169 PB, 166 SD Primary Examiner- Robert K. Schaefer Ass itam Examiner- Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Frank R. Trifari ABSTRACT: Apushbutton switching unit for switching ON and OFF various operatingfunctions in a tape recorder and playback apparatus which has a buttonmember which is depressed to actuate the switching function. Partialdepression of the button will actuate the switching function and releaseof the button will return the switching mechanism to their restposition. Movement of the pushbutton beyond the initial switchingposition will result in the operator encountering a certain amount ofresistance to further movement of the button beyond the switchingposition. Application of additional force will overcome the additionalresistance and the button and switching mechanism will then be movedinto a locked position in which the switching mechanism will remain inthe actuated position.

fill/r $11 3 1s (EN 2' 1 PATENTED AUG 3l97l lPlJSlllIB UTTGJNlDlEPRESSIlBlLlE T ACTUATIJD POSITION AGAHNSTE FORCE OF ONE BHASHNGMEANS, AND DEPRESSKBLE TG LATCIHIIED POSITION AGAINST THE lFGlitClE GTWO BHASING MEANS The invention relates to a pushbutton unit forparticular use with a tape recording and/or playback apparatus in whichit is used for switching on and off tape movement conditions and/oroperating conditions, the pushbuttons being held in their switched-onposition by snapping into engagement with a holding device.

The pushbutton unit according to the invention, presents distinct pointsat which the operator will encounter certain resistance to furthermovement of the button. This resistance is encountered prior to the unitsnapping into engagement with the holding device. The pushbuttons,however will have already accomplished switching function when theresistance is reached. This provides a particularly advantageous meansof operating tape recording and/or playback apparatus. In fact, when arecord carrier in the form of a tape is to be rewound over a shortlength, it is only necessary to depress the proper pushbutton until theresistance is reached, so that the rewinding operation will take place.However, in this switched position the pushbutton itself does not snapinto a hold position, so that upon releasing the pushbutton therewinding operation is immediately ended. Operation of the apparatus inthis manner has been found to be particularly suitable for findingparticular places on a record carrier. If a considerable length ofrecord carrier has to be rewound however, the pushbutton is depressedpast the point of encountering resistance to further movement of thebutton until it snaps into engagement with the holding device and needno longer be held by the operator. Such a pushbutton hence provides twodifferent possibilities of operation.

A particularly favorable and reliable construction is obtained when eachof the pushbuttons for switching on and off tape movement conditionscomprises a pushbutton rod cooperating with the holding device, and aswitching slide provided for switching on the switching function andbeing displaceable, through the pushbutton rod, said rod and said slidebeing connected together by means of a spring, the switching slide beingadapted to be held against a further displacement in its position inwhich the switching function is switched on whereas the pushbutton rodis adapted to be displaced further after reaching said position of theswitching slide, thereby tensioning the spring, so that a distinct pointof resistance to further movement of the button is encountered andfinally snapping into engagement with the holding device.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, twoembodiments thereof will now be described in greater detail, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a cross-sectional view of a pushbutton unit showing apushbutton of the sliding type in its rest condition,

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the same button in a switched position when aperceptible resistance is reached, and in condition in which the bottomis snapped into engagement with a holding device,

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a pushbutton of the swinging type togetherwith a very simple embodiment ofa perceptible resistance,

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two other switched positions of the pushbutton shownin FIG. 4. Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral ll denotes asupport of a pushbutton unit in which a pushbutton rod 3 is slidablyarranged for movement against the action of a spring 2. Three switchingunits 4 of which one is shown diagrammatically in cross section, andwhich are associated with said pushbutton are provided in the body ofthe pushbutton. For operating its contacts 5, each of these switchingunits comprises a switching member 6 which projects beyond the switchingunit and extends in a recess of switching slide 7. These recesses areformed by projections 8 on the switching slide. Slide member 7 is alsoslidable and is connected to the pushbutton rod 3 by means of a spring 9so that it may be moved by the rod. For guiding theswitching slide onthe one hand, extensions 10, are arranged on said slide and extend inrecesses 12, 13 of the pushbutton rod 3, and on the other hand theprojections 8 are provided and extend in recesses 14 of the pushbuttonbody 1. The extension it) simultaneously serves as an abutment withwhich the slide 7 engages the boundary of the recess 12 under the actionof the spring 9 when the pushbutton is in the rest position. The

recesses 14 in the pushbutton body together with the projections 8 onthe switching slide determine two extreme positions of the switchingmembers 6 so that the rest position and switching position of theswitching unit is thereby determined. An extension 15 of the pushbuttonrod determines the rest position thereof. For holding the pushbutton inthe switchedon position, a catch 17 is provided which is under theaction of a spring 16: and cooperates with an extension 18 of thepushbutton rod.

The operation of the pushbutton will now be described. When thepushbutton rod 3 is depressed in the direction of the arrow 19, the rodwill be displaced in its longitudinal direction. Movement the rod willcause the switching slide 7 to also move because of the connection tothe rod through the spring 9. The switching units 4 are thus broughtinto the switched-on position. The switching function of the pushbuttonis now switched on. The switching slide7 assumes an end position fromwhich it cannot be moved since the projections 8 engage the boundariesof the recesses 14. The operator will know when this switched positionis reached, since upon further displacement of the pushbutton rod thespring 9 will be tensioned and certain resistance to further movement ofthe button will be encountered. FIG. 2shows this switched position. Thepushbutton rod has not yet snapped into engagement with the holdingdevice 17, so that upon releasing the pushbutton, it immediately returnsto its rest position, the switched-on switching function beinginterrupted again.

If, however, while still in the switched position shown in FIG. 2 thepressure on'the pushbutton rod is increased, it will be displacedfurther in its longitudinal direction under the action of the spring 9,until the catch 17 engages behind the extension 18 and the pushbuttonrod is snapped into engagement with the holding device. The increasedforce required for the last mentioned displacement of the pushbutton rodpresents for the operator a significant distinction of the two mannersof displacement. The spring 9 represents a distinct resistance as soonas it becomes operative (i.e. under tension). The above describedswitched position, in which the switching function of the pushbutton isfinally switched on without further operation thereof, is shown in FIG3. Returning the pushbutton to its rest position may be effectednormally by releasing the catch 17. When the pushbutton rod returns toits rest position, the switching slide will also return because of theengagement therewith by abutment l0 and the switched-on switchingfunction is switched off again.

Such pushbuttons are particularly advantageous for switching on and offtape movement conditions, as they are required for rewinding tape recordcarriers in a tape recorder and/or playback apparatus. For example, apushbutton may be provided for switching on fast forward movement of therecord carrier and a second pushbutton for switching on fast rewind. Bydepressing a pushbutton up to the point of encountering resistance tofurther movement, a rewinding operation can be switched on which can beimmediately interrupted by simply releasing the pushbutton. As a resultof this the record carrier can simply be moved forward or backward overshort distances, which considerably facilitates the finding of givenplaces on the record carrier, for example, for cutting and the like. Forrewinding rather long pieces of the record carrier, however, thepushbutton may be snapped into engagement with the holding device, byovercoming the resistance encountered when pushing the button so thatthe operator need no longer hold the pushbutton.

In the present example, switching units 4 are provided with electricalswitches for switching on the rewinding operation by turning on and offwinding motors. Alternatively, however, electromagnets may be controlledby the switches. Said magnets may displace intermediate wheels in thedriving system of the apparatus in a conventional manner so that windingdevices are driven according. Naturally, however, the switching slide 7may also act directly on operating rods for mechanical transmissionswhich ensure that a desired operating condition will be established.Since these details are not essential to and form no part of theinvention they are not shown. In the last-mentioned case, for example,the reaction forces of the operating rods may also hold the switchingslide in the switched-on position and thus determine the point at whichresistance to further button movement will first be encountered.

Such a pushbutton may preferably also be used -for switching on aconventional quick-stop device. If the record carrier has to be stoppedfor a considerable time, the pushbutton is snapped into engagement withthe holding device. However, if the record carrier is to be moved at aparticular instant, the pushbutton which is kept depressed only to thepoint of first encountering the resistance, is released at thatparticular instant so that the beginning of the movement of the recordcarrier can be very accurately determined.

FIGS. 4 and 6 show an example of a pushbutton unit in which the rod 3 ispivotable and acts directly on a switch 4 for switching-off a rewindingoperation. The resistance to be encountered in this example is presentedby a brace 21 which is slidably mounted on the support 1 of thepushbutton unit, under the action of a spring 20. Said brace, in therest position of the pushbutton, engages said support with extensions 22without its extremity 23 being in contact with the pushbutton rod 3.

When the pushbutton is depressed a stepwise resistance to movement ofthebutton occurs due to the action ofthe spring 20 as soon as thepushbutton 3 touches the brace 21. This resistance is apparent duringthe operation. When the position shown in FIG. is reached, the contact 4is already closed and a switching function has taken place. Thepushbutton rod, however, is not yet held by the catch 17, so that uponreleasing the button it immediately returns to its rest position.

Only when the force of the spring is overcome and the brace 21 isdisplaced, the pushbutton rod can assume a switched position, in whichit is held by the catch 17 as is shown in FIG. 6. In this switchedposition, the switch 4 is also closed so that in this switched positionalso the desired switching function is switched on.

As a result of this the resistance offered to moving the button againprovides the operator with the possibility of switching on a switchingfunction temporarily, namely as long as the pushbutton is kept depresseduntil the resistance is encountered without the pushbutton snapping intoengagement with the holding device. The switching function isimmediately removed by releasing the pushbutton.

What we claim is:

1. A pushbutton switching unit for switching on and off variousoperating functions in tape recording and/or playback apparatuscomprising a support, a rod mounted on said support for movement by anoperator from a rest position to a switched position, first biasingmeans for urging said rod to remain in the rest position and forreturning said rod to the rest position when released from the switchedposition, switching means being actuated by movement of said rod to theswitched position, a locking mechanism mounted on said support engagingsaid rod and maintaining said rod in a locked position when said rod ismoved beyond the switched position, said switching means remainingactuated when said rod is moved to the locked position, said rod beingreturned to the rest position by said first biasing means when said rodis released from the locked position and second biasing means mountedfor cooperative engagement with said rod for biasing said rod againstmovement from the switched position to the locked position, an apparentresistance to movement of the rod beyond the switched position therebybeing encountered by the operator when said rod is moved from theswitched position to the locked position.

2. The pushbutton switching unit according to claim 1 further comprisinga slide member arranged for movement with said rod when said rod ismoved between the rest position and the switched position, abutment.means on said slide member for engagement with said support to preventfurther movement of said slide member beyond the switched position sothat only said rod may be moved to the locked position, said abutmentmeans being engaged by switching member in said switch means so thatsaid switching means is actuated by movement of said slide member whensaid slide member is moved by said rod to the switched position, saidsecond biasing means being a spring connecting said slide to said rod,whereby said spring moves said slide from a rest position to theswitched position without said spring being substantially tensioned assaid rod is moved from the rest position to the switched position, saidspring being substantially tensioned as said rod is moved beyond saidswitched position to the locked position while said slide member remainsstationary to maintain said switching means in an actuated condition sothat a substantial increase in resistance to movement of the rod isencountered during said tensioning.

3. The pushbutton switching unit according to claim 2 further comprisingan extension attached to said slide member, a recess in said rod throughwhich said extension extends so that said slide will be returned to itsrest position by said rod when said rod is released and returned to itsrest position, said switching means thereby being deactuated.

4. A pushbutton switching unit for switching ON and OFF variousoperating functions in tape recording and/or playback apparatuscomprising a support, a rod slidably mounted on said support, a buttonattached to one end of said rod for exerting a force thereon so as tocause longitudinal movement of said rod between an OFF and ON position,biasing means attached to said button for biasing said rod againstmovement to the ON position and for urging said rod to remain in an OFFposition, said rod being returned from the ON position to the OFFposition when the button is released, a slide member arranged forlongitudinal movement by said rod, a spring connecting said slide memberto said rod so that said slide will be moved by said rod to the ONposition without tensioning the spring, at least one switching unithaving means for cooperating with said slide member so that saidswitching unit will be switched to the ON position when said slide ismoved to the ON position by the rod, a locking mechanism for engagingsaid rod in a locked position upon further movement of said rod afterthe switching unit has been turned ON, said switching unit beingmaintained in the ON position upon such further movement, abutment meanson said slide for engaging said support when said switching unit isturned to the ON position to prevent further longitudinal movement ofsaid slide so that only said rod can be moved to the locked position,whereby said spring will be tensioned upon said further movement of saidrod so that a certain resistance to further movement of the button willbe encountered and application of additional force to the buttonrequired to overcome said resistance and move said rod into the lockedposition.

5. The pushbutton switching unit according to claim 4 further comprisingmeans connected to said slide for engaging said rod when said rod isreleased from the locked position so as to return said slide and saidswitching means to the OFF position.

1. A pushbutton switching unit for switching on and off variousoperating functions in tape recording and/or playback apparatuscomprising a support, a rod mounted on said support for movement by anoperator from a rest position to a switched position, first biasingmeans for urging said rod to remain in the rest position and forreturning said rod to the rest position when released from the switchedposition, switching means being actuated by movement of said rod to theswitched position, a locking mechanism mounted on said support engagingsaid rod and maintaining said rod in a locked position when said rod ismoved beyond the switched position, said switching means remainingactuated when said rod is moved to the locked position, said rod beingreturned to the rest position by said first biasing means when said rodis released from the locked position and second biasing means mountedfor cooperative engagement with said rod for biasing said rod againstmovement from the switched position to the locked position, an apparentresistance to movement of the rod beyond the switched position therebybeing encountered by the operator when said rod is moved from theswitched position to the locked position.
 2. The pushbutton switchingunit according to claim 1 further comprising a slide member arranged formovement with said rod when said rod is moved between the rest positionand the switched position, abutment means on said slide member forengagement with said support to prevent further movement of said slidemember beyond the switched position so that only said rod may be movedto the locked position, said abutment means being engaged by switchingmember in said switch means so that said switching means is actuated bymovement of said slide member when said slide member is moved by saidrod to the switched position, said second biasing means being a springconnecting said slide to said rod, whereby said spring moves said slidefrom a rest position to the switched position without said spring beingsubstantially tensioned as said rod is moved from the rest position tothe switched position, said spring being substantially tensioned as saidrod is moved beyond said switched position to the locked position whilesaid slide member remains stationary to maintain said switching means inan actuated condition so that a substantial increase in resistance tomovement of the rod is encountered during said tensioning.
 3. Thepushbutton switching unit according to claim 2 further comprising anextension attached to said slide member, a recess in said rod throughwhich said extension extends so that said slide will be returned to itsrest position by said rod when said rod is released and returned to itsrest position, said switching means thereby being deactuated.
 4. Apushbutton switching unit for switching ON and OFF various operatingfunctions in tape recording and/or playback apparatus comprising asupport, a rod slidably mounted on said support, a button attached toone end of said rod for exerting a force thereon so as to causelongitudinal movemenT of said rod between an OFF and ON position,biasing means attached to said button for biasing said rod againstmovement to the ON position and for urging said rod to remain in an OFFposition, said rod being returned from the ON position to the OFFposition when the button is released, a slide member arranged forlongitudinal movement by said rod, a spring connecting said slide memberto said rod so that said slide will be moved by said rod to the ONposition without tensioning the spring, at least one switching unithaving means for cooperating with said slide member so that saidswitching unit will be switched to the ON position when said slide ismoved to the ON position by the rod, a locking mechanism for engagingsaid rod in a locked position upon further movement of said rod afterthe switching unit has been turned ON, said switching unit beingmaintained in the ON position upon such further movement, abutment meanson said slide for engaging said support when said switching unit isturned to the ON position to prevent further longitudinal movement ofsaid slide so that only said rod can be moved to the locked position,whereby said spring will be tensioned upon said further movement of saidrod so that a certain resistance to further movement of the button willbe encountered and application of additional force to the buttonrequired to overcome said resistance and move said rod into the lockedposition.
 5. The pushbutton switching unit according to claim 4 furthercomprising means connected to said slide for engaging said rod when saidrod is released from the locked position so as to return said slide andsaid switching means to the OFF position.